Bears notes: Linebackers banged up leading into game with Lions

Wednesday

Sep 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2009 at 12:47 AM

The Bears released their longest injury list of the season Wednesday. Linebackers Lance Briggs (foot), Hunter Hillenmeyer (ribs) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) and defensive end Alex Brown (ankle) did not practice. The Bears already have lost linebacker Brian Urlacher for the season.

Matt Trowbridge

The Bears released their longest injury list of the season Wednesday.

Linebackers Lance Briggs (foot), Hunter Hillenmeyer (ribs) and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) and defensive end Alex Brown (ankle) did not practice. The Bears already have lost linebacker Brian Urlacher for the season.

"We’re a little thin at linebacker," coach Lovie Smith said. "Hopefully, we’ll get a little better news later in the week."

There’s a strong chance third-stringer Nick Roach will start in place of Hillenmeyer and Urlacher in the middle and backup Jamar Williams will play instead of Tinoisamoa on the strong side. Tinoisamoa and Briggs are unlikely to ever move to the middle, even though Tinoisamoa played there one season in St. Louis.

"Our linebackers, most of them can play all three positions," Smith said. "But you have to look at who is healthy and who has the best chance of being successful inside. Nick last year at training camp was a (middle) linebacker. Pisa hasn’t played a lot of it. Jamar Williams has played some inside. And if Lance Briggs had to move in, he could play all three of the linebacker positions and be about the best around."

Detroit (1-2), the Bears’ opponent Sunday, listed nine players on its injury report. The most notable were running back Kevin Smith (shoulder), who was held out of practice, and linebacker Ernie Sims (shoulder), who was limited.

Briggs earns weekly honor

Briggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, earned his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor. He had a sack, an interception, two tackles for loss, eight total tackles and a quarterback pressure in Chicago’s come-from-behind 25-19 win in Seattle. His sack forced a Seattle punt before Chicago’s first touchdown drive and his diving interception at the Seattle 14 led to a field goal.

Briggs is Chicago’s first NFC Defensive Player of the Week since defensive end Adewale Ogunleye was honored in the first week last year.

Soldier Field restrictions

The Bears have adopted stricter security measures for home games. Starting Sunday, fans will not be allowed to bring backpacks of any size, fanny packs, duffel bags, oversized, non-fitting camera and binocular cases, or purses and bags larger than a cubic foot into Soldier Field.